Draft-rigging for railway-cars.



G. H. PORSYTH.

' DRAFT RIGGING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.18. 1905 lit Est)

the draw-bar and transversely disposed 'an'ee medium of GEORGE H. FQRSYTH, Oh CHICAG'Q, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WAUGH DRAFT GEAR COMPANY, A GOILtI-PORATION 0h ILKGINOKS.

DYE'AFT-RIGG-ING FOR RAILVJAY-GARS.

annie gpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5., timid.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE H. Fonsx'rn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Rigging for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

lPhis invention has to do with draft-rigging' mechanism, and among other objects it is intended to provide simple and efficient means for yieldably confining the yoke or draw-bar extension. With the present tendency to allow the draw-bars of cars increased freedom of side movement when rounding curves, it has become necessary to provide some means for maintaining the normal or central position of the draw-bar and its extension. v

Generally speaking, there are three forms or construction permitting lateral movement to the draw-bar. .lln the first, the yoke or draw-bar extension is rigidly connected to the end of, the draw-bar and both are allowed to have angular movement relative to the rest of the draft-rigging mechanism. in the second, the draw-bar is pivotally connected to the yoke, in which case a limited amount of sidemovernent is given the latter. Lastly, the draw-bar, yoke and dralt-ri'gging mechanism as a whole have a pivotal connection with the car.

My invention is intended not merely or primarily to produce a means for returning maintaining the same in a central or coupling position, but it has" as a further object, particularly in the first of the above-described forms of construction to adord a means for normally maintaining or returning the draw-bar extension or yoke upon or to the 1011 'tudinal center line oi? the car. I accomplish this latter object by providing a guide, which, while permitting angular movement of the yoke, normally maintains the latter under ylelding'engagement therewith substantially upon the center line of the car.

Heretofore it has been customary to construct the draft-rigging mechanism vwith followers whose ends have abutted stop members rigidly attached to the draft-sills of the car; and between said stopmembers there has been proiuded a yoke encircling the followers and resistthe draft-tagging. in or der to maintain the yoke substantially central between the draft-sills rigid guides have been employed which, in some cases consist of the follower stops themselves or lnwardly projecting central portions of the draft castings with which the follower stops have been integral. The result has been that after a very limited angular side movement of the draw-bar the yoke has been drawn into engagement with these rigid guides, whereby further strains upon'the draw-bar tending to move the latter to one side have produced excessive breakin or shearing strains upon the rivets or t e connections uniting the draw-bar and yoke.

lln my present invention the extension or yoke guides are adapted to have movement under engagement with the extension or yoke whereby during angular movement of the draw-bar the in urious side strains are practically done away with, while at the same time the extension or yoke is normally maintained in its proper position by the spring-actuated guide, when the draw-bar is free.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for centering or efi'ecting the side movement of the draw-bar or yoke under an engagement therewith that will permit either the draw-bar or yoke, or both, to be jerked free of the car without injury to said device. lit has been common heretofore in the case of draw-bars for freight cars,.to increase the height of the draw-bar at its inner end to form a boss or abutment about which the adjacent ends of the yoke are lipped, in order to add to the strength of the connection. There have been devised draw-bar actuating devices, one or more of whose parts have extended transversely of the draw-bar. These devices, however, have been so constructed that the said part or parts have been liable to be struck by the enlarged end of the draw-bar, in case the latter has been torn from the car, with the result of injuring the-actuating device. In 'my present invention 1 provide a device which, while operating transversely of the draw-bar, will permit the latter or the yoke, or both, to be torn free from e car without injury thereto.

la association with mypresent improvements ll may also employ a centerin device for the draw-bar stem or shank, a though such a centering'device in not an iio cept in constructions wherein the draw-bar stem is pivotally connected to the forward end of the draw-bar extension or yoke. In construction wherein the draw-bar is rigid with the yoke, a truck-actuated form of centering device tending to normally maintain the drawbar substantially in the line of draft-or at'rightangles to the truck may be useful.

Approved forms of my invention are illustrated 1 the accompanying drawings, in which,"- t

Figure 1 is a t'opplan View of a draftrigging embodying one form of-the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar View of a modified form of the invention,showing also a drawbar centering means; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4.1 is a :crosssectional view on the line L -4 of Fig.- 2;- Figbis a cross-sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a side elevational View, broken away, of the drawbar and'yoke extension; Fig. 7 is a detailcross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, and illustrating a'inodified form of the latter; Fig.8 is a top plan View of a form wherein the entire draft-rigging is pivoted relatively to the car-body; and Figs. 9-and 10 are cross-sectional views on the lines 99 and 10+-10, respectively, of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, 10 may desighate the draft sills, which may be either the channel center sills of a steel car, or may be separate "sills secured to the usual center sills. Secured to the inner faces of said sillsare the usual front and rear stop castings 11 and 12, respectively, hetween which is mounted the draw-bar extension. onyoke 13, with considerable side clearance between itself and both the front and rear stops. Disposed between and transversely of the' upper and lower sections of the yoke are front and rear followers 14 and 15, respectively, the ends of which'engage the fol-;

lower stops in the usual manner. Within the yoke and abutting against the inner faces'of the followers is the usual: draft-and bufiing spring 16.

l7-designates the draw-bar rigidlyeom nected as by rivets'18 to the forward end of the yoke 13 (Fig. 6'),-and terminating at its outer. end in the usual coupler head partially indicated at L9. a

The parts as thus'far described are usual and common in present draft-rigging-practice, excepting'fonthe-factthat the parts are'so assembledas to permit a-considerably the-yoke than wider lateral movement 1? in present practice, l 1

Referring-now-to'ian important feature of my present invention whereby-the yoke is e nipped with elastic yielding; guides which, w tion,--per mit {itto partake of the latera deflection' of i the draw-bar without any subile normally maintaining :its central osistantiai stiain on the connections between the latter and the yoke, 20 designates a pair of yoke guides disposed on opposite sides of the upper section of the yoke, respec- ,tively; each of said guides in the form here- 1 spring pocket as well as a reinforcement for the bar. The flanges 21 are apertured, and through said apertures, as also through corresponding apertures in the draft sills 10, is passed a bolt :23 (Fig. 3) secured in position by suitable heads or nuts 24-. The bolt 23 lies above the upper section of the yoke; and on it, between the flanges 21 of the guides, is secured as by means of a cross-pin 25, a spacing sleeve 26 of a length suliistantially equal to the width of the yoke. Surrounding the bolt 23 on the outer sides of the guide flanges 21 are springs 27, said springs abutting at one end against the flanges of the guides and at their other end against the inner faces of the sills 10. It will be seen that-the bolt 23 holds the yoke guides against vertical and longitudinal displacement; while the ends of said guides overlie the upper edges of the followers, as shown in Fig. 1, which, in coeperation with the bolt 23,'prevents angular displacement of said guides.

It will be seen from the foregoing that in effect the draw bar and yoke are floatatively mounted within the space between the draft sills and are thus permitted bodily movement-as distinguished from pivotal movement, subject only to the yielding control of the resistance springs acting longitudinally on the follower plates and laterally on the draftsills.

dVhen themechanism is idle or is work ing over straight track, the spring-pressed guides 20 lying upon the opposite sides of the yoke, maintain the same in central position substantially in alinement with the longitudinal medianline of the car. When, however, the draw-bar is angularly defiected, the yieldable. guides 20 permit the yoke tofilikewise partake. of said angular movement of the dIaW bl-1', without injurious shearing strains upon the rivets 18 connecting the yoke and draw-bar; the springpressed guides automatically tending to re Flt i, iaaaio -Fig. 11 have indicated at l'i parts of a truck-actuating draw-bar controlling means, which may consist, for instance, of a pair of chains connected to opposite sides of the draw-bar and to parts of the truck, whereby the draw-bar is maintained at right angles to the truck or substantially coincident with the line of draft, the yoke guides yielding, when necessary, to permit such movement of the draw-bar.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 2, 4; and 5- embodies the same operative principle as that already described in a little difierent mechanical form and as applied to aiconstruction wherein the draw-bar is pivotally connected to the yoke as at 18. In this construction' 1 provide the yoke with one or more inverted saddle-shaped members 30 that overlie and are adapted to embrace the upper section of the yoke, said members each having a central upstanding web 31 and transverse webs 32, thereby forming pockets for the inner ends of springs 33 on' either side thereof, said member and springs being mounted upon and guided by a transverse bolt 23 secured in and between the draft-sills similar to the bolt 23. in Fig. 2 1 have shown a pair of such devices located on either side of the longitudinal center of the yoke. in the said figure l have also shown a similar device engaging the drawbar or coupler shank 17 in advance of the pivotal connection of the yoke thereto. lhis latter device is shown'in cross-section in Fig. 5, .wherein it will be seen that the construction is the same as that of Fig. .4, except that the depending sides of the saddleshaped member 30* are of greater length, in order to reach the sides of the draw-bar while at the same time afi'ording suficient clearance for the passage of the yoke connections thereunder. In the conptruction shown in Fig. 2, the yoke-engaging guides co-' operate with each other in normally maintaining the yoke in central position while elastically permitting lateral or angular deflection thereof, so as to allow the yoke as well as the draw-bar to pull into the line of draft.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate an application of my invention to a construction wherein the entire draft-rigging is pivotally mounted relatively to the car, so as to partake of such angular movement as is permitted by the spacing of the draft-sills.

34: and 35 designate a pair of supporting brackets secured to and between the draftsills, between which brackets is pivotally mounted a frame or casing 36 containing the usual yoke, followers and draft and buffing spring, the corner walls of the easing serving as stops. The upper wall of the casing, in'advance of the trunnion thereof, is provided with an upstanding protuberance 37 formed thereon (Fig. 10), the same bein engaged by an inverted saddle-shaped mem er d0 mounted and actuated in the manner and by the means shown in Fig. 41-, whereby the draft-rigging casing or cage, when angularly deflected and released, is returned, with its contained parts, to a position substantially coincident with the longitudinal median line of the car. Preferably the outer faces of the followers have rounded surfaces engaging the draw-bar or its eK tension, as shown at 14 in Fig. 1, whereby to permit free angular movement of the en tension, these rounded surfaces preferably assuming a convex form.

lit will be observed that the yoke and draw-bar guides are located above the highest points of the yoke and above the highest points of such parts of the draw-bar as are in rear of said guides. In consequence of this arrangement the yoke and draw-bar can, in case of accident, he pulled entirely clean of the end of the car without injury to the guides. I

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to employ spring-backed followers on the opposite sides of the yoke or drawbar extension, and also to employ automatic centering devices in connection with centrally pivoted drawbar yokes or extensions. My invention is radically distinguished from such constructions in that it employs, in coiiperation with. the drawbar yoke or extension, which is capable of bodily lateral movement, laterally yieldable confining members that are entirely independent of the draft and buliing spring or springs, and have the function of automatically maintaining the yoke or drawbar extension axially coincident with the median line of the car when free of laterally deflecting influences, whereby sufficient lateral movement of the yoke is afiorded to avoid shearing strains upon the 'drawbar and yoke connec tions, and at the same time the drawbar is automatically maintained, when free, in coupling position.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the principle of the above-described inven: tion is capable of embodiment in other more or less differing forms all capable of effecting the same results and advantages; and hence I do not limit the invention to the particular form or forms herein shown and described, except to the extent indicated in specific claims.

bar extension having lateral bodily move-' ment independent of said car, a resistance medium, and-means independent of the resistance medium adapted to yieldingly engage and center the said extension, substantially as describe 2. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with the car, of a draw-bar and a draw bar extension bodily movable laterally independently of the car, a resistance medium, means independent of said resistance medium adapted to yieldingly engage the said extension at a plurality of points and normally tending to center the same, substantially as described.

3. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with draft sills, of a draw-bar, a draw-bar extension and a resistance medium bodily movable laterally independently of said draft sills, spring-pressed guides independent of the resistance medium adapted to yieldingly engage the sides of said extension on both sides of the longitudinal center thereof, substantially as described.

4. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with draft sills, of a draw bar, a draw-bar extension rigid therewith and having bodily lateral movement independently of said draft sills, a resistance medium, spring-pressed guides independent of the resistance medium adapted to yieldably confine said extension laterally on both sides of the longitudinal center thereof, substantially as described.

5. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with draft sills, of a draw-bar, a draw-bar extension bodily movable laterally independently of said draft sills, a resistance medium disposed and operating parallel with said draw-bar extension, and springpressed guides adapted to yieldably confine said extension laterally on both sides of the longitudinal center thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a draft-rigging bination with draft sills, of a draw-bar and draw-bar extension bodily movable laterally independently of said sills, of a resistance medium and a yieldable guide for said drawbar extension, the same comprising a pair of springs mounted to operate in a direction transversely of said extension, and thrust members actuated by said springs and engaging the opposite sides of said extension, substantially as described.

7. In a draf bination with extension, of a bar extension,

a draw-bar and a draw-bar yieldable guide for said drawthe same comprising a pair of mechanism, the com- ,longitudinally between the said t-rigging mechanism, the comsprings mounted to operate in a direction transversely of said extension, thrust members actuated by said springs and engaging the opposite sides of said extension, and a spacing sleeve between said thrust members, substantially as described.

8. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with a draw-bar and a draw-bar extension, of a yieldable guide for said drawbar extension, the same comprising a pair of springs operating in a direction transversely of said extension, a rod on which said springs are mounted, thrust members actuated by said springs and engaging the opposite sides of said extension, and a spacing sleeve secured to said rod between said thrust members, substantially as described.

9. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with a draw-bar, and a drawbar extension having bodily lateral movement, of a pair of yieldable guides operating laterally upon said draw-bar extension, and a follower having a rounded surface engaging said draw-bar extension whereby to permit free angular movement of said extension, substantially as described.

10. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with a draw-bar, and a drawbar extension having bodily lateral movement, of a pair of yieldable guides operating laterally upon said draw-bar extension, and followers having convexed outer surfaces whereby to permit free angular movement of said extension, substantially as described.

11. In a draft-rigging, the combination with a pair of draft sills, of a floating drawbar and yoke loosely mounted within the space between the draft sills and spaced therefrom for bodily lateral movement, and yielding resistance media disposed laterally between the said yoke and the draft sills, substantially as described.

12. In a draft-rigging, the combination with a pair of draft sills having front and rear stops-on the inner opposed faces thereof, of a floating draw-bar and yoke provided with front and read follower plates and loosely mounted within the space between the draft sills and stops and spacedtherefrom for bodily lateral movement, and yielding resistance media disposed laterally and yoke and the draft sills and the follower plates respectively, substantially as described.

GEORGE H. FORSYTH. Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. Pom), FREDERICK C. Goonwm. 

